if you are traveling 800 knots at different altitudes, the “Mach” figure changes depending on how high you are?

Question

It’s easier to go Mach 2 at 50000 feet than it is at 25000 feet. Or so I hear.

In: Physics

Answer 1

Mach is the speed of sound. The speed of sound changes as the air pressure changes.

You say it’s more difficult to do Mach 2 at 25,000 than 50,000. That is because they are different speeds. At 50,000 Mach 2 would be about 1320mph, at 25,000 Mach 2 is around 1380mph.